Dilip Cherian Blog

Cherian's Choice

It’s not the heaven-born alone who feel their turf is being trodden upon in the Modi sarkar. The IPS officers too are losing their ‘superior’ sheen. The recent unexplained removal of advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, R.K. Mishra within days of receiving an extension, seems to be part of this situation. The ministry’s order curtailing his service may have something to do with the long, ongoing tussle between the IPS officers and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) cadre over better pay for the latter.
Mishra was an officer of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and was a joint secretary in the ministry before his retirement and subsequent re-appointment as advisor. He was handling the division in the ministry that looks after the affairs of the paramilitary forces. According to sources, the CAPF officers had been accusing him of allegedly favouring the IPS officers in service-related matters. His removal is being seen as a sign that the ministry is now sympathetic to the CAPF cadre officers’ cause.
As a further fillip to the CAPF cadre officers, the Department of Personnel and Training has directed the Home Ministry to grant better pay benefits to the CAPF, in accordance with the enhanced status given to them by the Supreme Court. This will put the officers of CAPF on a par with their counterparts in the IAS, IPS and other A category services.
The Home Ministry has reportedly issued an order to directors-general (DGs) of the forces and asked them to not only form internal committees for grant of non-functional selection grade (NFSG) to CAPF officers but to also frame new recruitment rules.
Mishra’s removal notwithstanding, the ongoing rivalry between the IPS and the CAPF officers is far from over. Watch this space for updates.